A federal judge has sentenced the admitted mastermind of a mortgage fraud scheme involving a house in Kaimuki and another one in Kailua to six years in prison.

The judge ordered John Mendoza, 58, to also pay $881,515 restitution.

Mendoza is the only one of six defendants involved in the scheme to go to trial. A jury found him guilty in February of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, making false statements on a loan application, money laundering and failing to file tax returns.

The other five defendants pleaded guilty and received sentences ranging from probation to one year in jail.

Mendoza admits to structuring the transactions involving the sale, purchase and mortgage refinancing of the homes. But he said he was motivated by his faith and church to help out the original homeowners, who were facing foreclosure.

He denies falsifying any documents and said he is appealing his convictions. He said his trial lawyer does not understand the mortgage and financial markets.